The EU could “act quickly and firmly” in response to what it calls “unwarranted” visa bans imposed by the United States on five Europeans working on combating online hate and misinformation, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
European Leaders Decry US Move as ‘Coercion’
Officials from Europe such as Emmanuel Macron charged Washington of “bullying and threats”, following the travel bans were placed on figures that were at the heart of efforts to introduce legislation governing US-based technology firms.
“For far too long, European activists have spearheaded coordinated campaigns to coerce US companies to punish US perspectives they oppose,” wrote the US secretary of state online. “This government will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship.”
Widespread Condemnation From EU Nations
Germany, Spain, the UK and a chorus of EU officials supported France in condemning the move.
The restrictions were imposed this week against an ex-European commissioner who helped draft the bloc’s digital governance law, along with several anti-disinformation campaigners, from two in Germany and two in the UK.
A Deepening Dispute Over Regulation
This European legislation is viewed by Washington as a form of censorship, whereas EU authorities argue the rules are necessary to control inflammatory language and disinformation.
This disagreement threatens to become part of a much broader ongoing political and ideological clash involving the current US administration and Europe.
Additional Updates Reported Today
In related legal developments:
- A federal judge has halted attempts to cut federal homeland security funding to local governments which resist certain immigration enforcement policies. The judge ruled the case was “another example” of linking government assistance to adherence to directives.
- Approval was given for the deployment of hundreds of national guard troops to New Orleans prior to the new year, coinciding with an active border security initiative.
- A Pacific Island nation will consent to accept a limited number of migrants from the US in exchange for additional aid, after concluding a formal agreement with Washington.
Additionally, a congressional representative has filed a lawsuit to demand the stripping of a political figure’s name from a well-known performing arts center in the capital.
Experts point out that recent statements regarding foreign petroleum resources align with a wider ideology in some quarters of “resource imperialism”, drawing comparisons with past foreign policy actions.
